Today, it’s blue skies and 32 degrees. I can hear the dripping of melting snow from the living room. And the robins are out in force. Spring fever is high.
The birds are enjoying the melting snow. At least I think that’s what is happening over on the roof next door.
However, going back to Wednesday and Thursday, the winter storm paid us a visit. Not horrible, really pretty standard for February snowfall around here. And believe it or not, the news said even with the snow we’re still in a drought. It was cold though. Too cold to take photos except through the backdoor.
Too bad because I had lots of birds visiting the feeders on Wednesday and Thursday. Most of them, I couldn’t get a decent through the door photo to show you. This happened a lot as well:
Time to take the photo and they all decide to fly away as I press the button!
The brown-headed cowbirds were out in force. This is the first time I’ve seen them at the feeders since early fall or maybe even last spring. Not sure if they migrate? Looks like our area is right on the line between year-round and breeding.
Not going to lie, they are not my favorite birds. At all. And they were crowding out a few of my favorites like the cardinals and white-throated sparrows.
New Visitors
However, there was another pairing of blackbirds with the brown-headed cowbirds that I’ve never before had visit my backyard birdfeeders. It was very easy to identify the male red-winged blackbird (not pictured as I only saw him a couple of times) but the female bird took me a minute.
Did you have any idea female red-winged blackbirds were so beautiful? I know I didn’t.
Perhaps they’ll return on a sunnier day when I can be outside with the camera to get decent shots instead debating if I want to risk frostbite for an attempt. (Sometimes, common sense prevails).
Of course, with the obscene number of cowbirds, I did switch back to safflower seed, the favorite of the cardinals and small finches, not so much the bigger birds. So, I may just have to be satisfied to see them in passing and not in my own backyard.
Other Birds Spotted This Week, Not Photographed
Cardinals, sparrows including the white-throated sparrows, large numbers of dark-eyed juncos, blue jays (loud birds!), robins, tufted titmice, chickadees, both the downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, and occasionally a mourning dove.
In addition as I sat simply watching the birds on Wednesday mid-morning, a Cooper’s Hawk arrived and perched right over the bird feeders. Then, my son who came to see the hawk noticed a second hawk in a tree not too far off from the first one before they swooped away.
Do you ever see different birds when it snows?
*joining in with the Bird Depot hosted by Anni at I’d Rather B Birdin’
Hello,
I would hope the snow will take care of the drought. Great collection of birds and photos.
The female Red-wing Blackbird is a beauty. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great new week!
I would have hoped so as well but apparently we need more rain/snow (kind of at that February point where I’d prefer rain, not the freezing kind though!). Thank you, hope your week is off to a wonderful start!
Thanks for sharing this week at I’d Rather B Birdin’!
The bird list of not photographed is impressive. Loved seeing your wintry shots. And yes, the female is dapper!! (Can a female be considered dapper?)
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I think dapper is a wonderful way to describe the bird. Haven’t seen as many birds (other than my usual variety) now that our snow is pretty much all melted. Hope you’re having a terrific Tuesday so far!